We Need A National RN-to-Patient Ratio Law and
an Occupational Safety and Health Standard Protecting
Nurses and Patients from Injury

In Ohio hospitals, RN-to-patient ratios are unsafe. We call for a maximum of one RN to four patients in med/surg and maximum of one RN to two patients in critical care. Each unit has a specific ratio in our new legislative proposal.

The leading cause of injury among nurses and healthcare workers is patient lifting, transferring, and repositioning injuries. Establishing a safe patient handling and injury protection standard for direct-care nurses and other health workers is a critical component in protecting health workers, addressing the nursing shortage, and increasing patient safety. 

Two New Laws Have Been Proposed in the US Congress on These Important Issues! Sign to Show Your Support for Passage of These Laws!

 Boxer-Conyers Petition 

NNOC OHIO E-Bulletin

 NNOC OHIO June 2010 E-Bulletin

 NNOC OHIO February 2010 E-Bulletin

 NNOC OHIO November 2009 E-Bulletin

Tracking Ratios - An Information Arsenal

In an effort to get a complete picture of what staffing is really like for nurses around the state, NNOC Ohio has begun its ratio tracking project. 

Please send your staffing information to:  info@NNOC.net

Include as much of the following information as possible:

• Facility
• Date and shift worked
• Name and type of unit
• Number of patients you were assigned and their acuity levels
• Number and type of ancillary staff on hand
• SEND NEAR-MISS STORIES TOO!

Ohio's New "Common-Sense" Staffing Law 

On Sept. 10 the hospital industry's so-called Common-Sense Staffing Law goes into effect. Ohio RNs know that this phony reform bill will not add up to life-saving staffing changes. The law was devised as an attempt to block true reform that the Ohio Hospital Patient Protection Act would provide - safe staffing with accountability! While the law does not say that the staffing plan has to be adhered to, it does state that the committee should be composed of at least 50 percent direct-care RNs. As patient advocates, duty demands that we monitor the impact or lack of impact that the law has on patient care. We are asking direct care RNs to monitor these staffing plans as they are implemented in hospitals and report your experiences to NNOC Ohio. The data you provide will be used to reinforce our position that the only solution for safe patient care is minimum, mandated ratios -- improved upon as individual patient need demands!

What You Can Do:

1. Try to join your hospital's committee. Call the Nursing Department to find out how nurses are elected or appointed to the staffing committee.

2. Document your experiences on committee and whether staff RNs' concerns are considered.

3. Get a copy of the hospital staffing plan

4. Send reports on experiences back to NNOC Ohio by emailing: malbert@calnurses.org

Recent Contract Agreements Demonstrate the Power of Unity and
Collective Bargaining!

Recently, CNA/NNOC RNs in California at Mills-Peninsula Hospital (part of the Sutter Health chain) won many new contract provisions including:

• Meal and Rest Period Safe Staffing: The hospital must satisfy legal obligations to staff by ratios and patient acuity and provide RNs to accept patient care assignments during meals and breaks.
• Safe Patient Handling Program: Incorporates RNs' professional judgment and clinical assessment, ergonomic training in safe lifting techniques for all RNs and ancillary personnel, specific trained safe handling personnel, which may include RNs, and sufficient safe lifting equipment on each unit.
• Pension enhancement: $3,000 or $1,500 one-time (1) contributions to a 403(b) plan for benefited RNs with 20 years of service, and five years of service, respectively. Additionally, up to a $300 match, at a 50 percent rate, each year.
• Wage increases: Totaling 13.5 percent during the first 10 months of the agreement and 17.5 percent over approximately three years!

Previous provisions won by RNs at this hospital:

• Kentucky River protection for RNs (nurses cannot be considered supervisors in union elections)
• Guaranteed resource RN positions covering 10 hours/day, seven days/week
• RNRN Emergency Response Network release time and access to association leave or PTO
• Added new departments where only RNs would be hired into new licensed nurse positions
• Increases in per diem rates, PM shift differentials, charge and relief charge differentials, preceptor differentials

NNOC RNs Making Headlines

Ohio Nurses Union Debunks New State Health Department Hospital Website. Read the press release

Diane Suchetka of the Cleveland Plain Dealer recently interviewed NNOC RNs in her journey to find a true patient advocate.  Read her article titled: "Ohio Nurses, Hospitals at Odds Over Patient Ratio Proposal"

Cleveland Attorney Nick DiCello saw Diane's Plain Dealer article and featured the story in his blog Nurse-to-Patient Ratios and Quality Healthcare in Ohio 

Nurses Celebrate Labor Day   NNOC RNs carrying our banner "Ohio RNs Put Patients First" were cheered by parade watchers and other union members at the Cleveland Labor Day Parade, where our members also met elected officials such as Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones and Congressman Dennis Kucinich.
	Michelle Wells, Adrienne Zurub and Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones

CONTACT US!

NNOC Ohio
6505 Rockside Road Suite 226
Independence, Ohio  44131
(216) 573 5502